Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-08


a word can be discerned The instru-
ment is like the ink-roller of printing
press. If the article in q magazine
covers more than page, the pages are
simply torn out and cast into the waste
basket The office Of the censor of the
press in city like St Petersburg is
something like that Of the city editor
for large American newspaper. The
corps of assistants open the mails, run
through the matter and hand the ques-
fionable stuff to the censor. who de-
cides if it should be detained, destroyed
or passed. This process makes the de-
livery of all mail matter except letters
very slow. The newspapers in Russia
are of very little Importance on ac-
count of the censorship. Every article,
even to a local paragraph, discussing
Russian affairs or referring directly or
remotely to the Emperor or his family,
the army, navy or any official. al
though it may say that so-and-so is
going to such and such places on a
visit, must be referred to the censor.
Editors tell me that their articles are
so long delayed by the censor, even
though he passes favOrably upon them,
that it is not worth while to attempt
to use political matter or news relating
to any one or any thing connected
with the empire. 1t is not infrequent
that articles are referred to the Gar,
and the author is summoned to appear
before his Excellency and explain the
object of publication. Thus the re-
straint of writers can no: be appre-
ciated by any except those who have
had the experience.
There is lower grade of intelli-
gence in the common people in Russia
than was ever found among the blacks
of America during slavery. The Amer
lean negro had from the very begin
ming. natural ''horse sense" cum
ming which gave him reason. There is
nothing in the minds of the mass of
Russians except that which is carried
by the senses of sight and hearing.
They do not reason. In st. Petersburg
there are thousands of drosky Gear
riage) drivers, and am told that not
one in twenty can read the signs along
the streets, and not two in five hum
drcd can read book or a newspaper.
And yet these men have had, for Rus
STA, extraordinary opportunities.
What, then, must be the condition of
the people in the country-those who
have not had contact with the world.
The proportion of these ignorant
people to the intelligent and educated
is about 60 per cent Of the 100, OOO,-
600 population in Russia about 60, OOO.-
| 900 were either among the serfs freed
by Alexander II. quarter of century
ago or are the offs pring of those white
slaves They do not know what a
school is. and have learned more alb
ject manners than our black folks.
have never ntered so much OBJ
sequiousness anywhere. Not only do
the working people perpetrate upon
the visitor all sorts of salaams. but
merchants and people in the upper
classes have the infection, and bow and
blink till white free man must blush.
l expected to find the Russians a
fiercelooking people. They are the very
opposite. Fierceness must be accom-
panied by degree of mental SUBJ
stance. The average Russian one
meets in the streets or in the country
is of medium size. He is of light yell
low tan color, from exposure to wealth
err and existence upon coarse food.
Generally he wears full beard, and
four times out of five it is light in
color and very filthy. His hair is about
two inches thick, is cut as if the work
was done with meat axe or a circu-
lar saw. and besides being combed
down in front is slightly parted in the
middle, rs though he were not ure
whether he is male or female. He in
variably wears high-topped boots. and
his trousers are tucked into the boot
tops. The boot tops have a series of
finely artistic wrinkles midway. and
are generally we'll oiled. This is the
only tasteful indication in the dress.
The coat of peasant is a cross be-
teen a robe, frock and blouse. 1t
comes almost to the knees. is single
breasted, and has wide belt. If the
subject is driver he wears robe and
bit, and the garment is of blue cloth
and comes to the ground. The head
wear is a broad cap with low crown.
The Russian is as filthy as he is ig-
norant and unsightly. Only three or
four of the principal hotels have any
preparations for bathing. and these are
extremely meager. The Russian bath
in Russia is myth. paid three rou-
bles for place to take very ordinary
bath in the principal hotel to-day. Not
one palace in five has bath, and as
the waters of the Neva are too cold for
swimming baths. the people. as mass.
shed their accumulated filth like fish
scales. And since dried fish, oil and
cured vegetables form the staple diet
for the majority of the people, and the
Neva, which furnishes the water sup
plv, can be detected miles distant by